Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02868961 2014-10-27
Attorney Docket No. 201402204
OVER-THE-DOOR STORAGE ARMOIRE
BACKGROUND
[0001] Doors can be used to support mirrors or storage-type articles including
armoires and
racks in bathrooms or bedrooms. Not only do doors provide a convenient
mounting space, but
the articles mounted to the doors are usually hung using over-the-door
hangers, which eliminate
placing anchors into walls in the bathroom or bedroom.
[0002] The discussion above is merely provided for general background
information and is not
intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject
matter.
SUMMARY
[0003] A storage armoire includes a back frame assembly configured to provide
a storage space,
a front frame assembly rotatably coupled to the back frame assembly so that
the front frame
assembly is pivotal about a portion of the back frame assembly and first and
second over-the-
door hangers. The first and second over-the-door hangers have hook portions
that fit over a top
of a door, mounting portions mounted to a back of the back frame assembly and
arms extending
between the mounting portions and the hook portions. The hook portions are
spaced apart from
each other on the door at a distance that is greater than a distance that the
mounting portions that
are mounted to the back of the back frame assembly are spaced apart from each
other.
[0004] A storage unit includes a base frame member, a moveable frame member, a
backer and
an inner ring. The base frame member defines an opening and includes an
integrally formed
reactive portion of a latch. The moveable frame member defines an opening and
is pivotally
coupled to the base frame member. The backer is attached to an outer surface
of the base frame
member. The inner ring is fastened to an inside of the moveable frame member
to secure a mirror
to the moveable frame member and includes an integrally formed active portion
of the latch. The
active portion of the latch is configured to mate with the reactive portion of
the latch so as to
removably couple the moveable frame member to the base frame member.
[0005] A method is provided for hanging an article on a door. The method
includes mounting a
mounting portion of a first over-the-door hanger to a back of the article such
that the mounting
CA 02868961 2014-10-27
Attorney Docket No. 201402204
2
portion of the first over-the-hanger is located adjacent to a first side of
the article. A mounting
portion of a second over-the-door hanger is mounted to the back of the article
such that the
mounting portion of the second over-the-door hanger is located adjacent to a
second side of the
article that opposes the first side of the article. The hook portions of the
first and second over-
the-door hangers are hung over the top of the door. The hook portions are
spaced apart from each
other on the door a distance that is greater than a distance that the mounting
portions are spaced
apart from each other.
[0006] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that
are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not
intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it
intended to be used as an
aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed
subject matter is not
limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the
background.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of a storage armoire mounted to a door and in a
closed position
according to one embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view of the storage armoire of FIG. 1 mounted to the
door and in an
opened position according to one embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the storage armoire illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of the storage armoire illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a front view of storage armoire illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is back view of the storage armoire illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a top view of the storage armoire illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of storage armoire illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a right side view of the storage armoire illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a left side view of the storage armoire illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a front view of storage armoire illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 12 is back view of the storage armoire illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a top view of the storage armoire illustrated in FIG. 2.
CA 02868961 2014-10-27
Attorney Docket No. 201402204
3
[00201 FIG. 14 is a bottom view of storage armoire illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0021] FIG. 15 is a right side view of the storage armoire illustrated in FIG.
2.
[0022] FIG. 16 is a left side view of the storage armoire illustrated in FIG.
2.
[0023] FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the storage armoire illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 2.
[0024] FIG. 18 is a partial section view of the storage armoire illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2 as
indicated in FIG. 3 with a latch in a locked position.
[0025] FIG. 19 is the partial section view of FIG. 18, but with the latch
being in an unlocked
position.
[0026] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a first over-the-door hanger according
to one
embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 21 is a front view of the first over-the-door hanger in FIG. 20.
[0028] FIG. 22 is a back view of the first over-the-door hanger in FIG. 20.
[0029] FIG. 23 is right side view of the first over-the-door hanger in FIG.
20.
[0030] FIG. 24 is a left side view of the first over-the-door hanger in FIG.
20.
[0031] FIG. 25 is a plan view of the first over-the-door hanger in FIG. 20 in
an unbent state.
[0032] FIG. 26 is an enlarged partial perspective view of tool-lessly mounting
the first over-the-
door hanger to a back of the storage armoire according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] An over-the-door storage armoire provides a space-saving alternative
for storing and
organizing items, such as jewelry, scarves, toiletries, etc. The storage
armoire includes a back
frame assembly and a front frame assembly rotatably coupled to the back frame
assembly. The
back frame assembly provides a storage space and the front frame assembly
pivotally covers and
uncovers the storage space. A pair of over-the-door hangers couple the back
frame assembly and
the front frame assembly to a door. The pair of over-the-door hangers include
proximal ends,
distal ends and arms that extend between the proximal and distal ends. The
proximal ends are
tool-lessly mounted to a back of the back frame assembly and the distal ends
include U-shaped
brackets for fitting on top of the door. To ensure that the back frame
assembly and the front
frame assembly do not swing back and forth when the front frame assembly is
opened, a distance
CA 02868961 2014-10-27
Attorney Docket No. 201402204
4
between the U-shaped brackets of the distal ends of the pair of over-the-door
hangers is greater
than a distance between the proximal ends of the pair of over-the-door
hangers.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a front view of a storage armoire or unit 100 mounted to a
door 200 and in a
closed position according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of storage
armoire 100
mounted to door 200 and in an opened position according to one embodiment.
FIGS. 3-10 are
perspective and orthogonal views of storage armoire 100 in the closed position
including a front
perspective view, a back perspective view, a front view, a back view, a top
view, a bottom view,
a right side view and a left side view. FIGS. 11-16 are orthogonal views of
storage armoire 100
in the opened position including a front view, a back view, a top view, a
bottom view, a right
side view and a left side view. FIG. 17 is an exploded view of storage armoire
100.
[0035] Storage armoire 100 includes a back frame assembly 102 and a front
frame assembly 104
that is rotatably coupled to back frame assembly 102 so that front frame
assembly 102 is pivotal
about a portion of back frame assembly 102, by for example, a set of hinges
106a, 106b and 106c
that are attached to back frame assembly 102 and correspondingly attached to
front frame
assembly 104. In particular, a left side of front frame assembly 104 is
pivotal about a left side of
back frame assembly 102 using hinges 106a, 106b and 106c, which are affixed to
back frame
assembly 102 and front frame assembly 104 by fasteners. Back frame assembly
102 provides
storage space and storage components for storing items. Front frame assembly
104 provides a
cover to cover the items being stored in back frame assembly 104.
[0036] Back frame assembly 102 includes a base frame member or inner profile
108, a backer
110 and a plurality of support components for storing and organizing items. In
one embodiment,
base frame member or inner profile 108 is made of injection molded polystyrene
and includes a
plurality of integrally molded boss features for receiving fasteners. Other
types of materials and
methods of manufacturing are possible. Base frame member 108 defines an
opening 116 and
includes an integrally formed reactive portion 120 of a latch 118. Latch 118
will be discussed in
detail in regards to FIGS. 18-19.
[0037] Backer 110 encloses opening 116 and is fastened or attached to a back
or outer surface
122 of base frame member 108 using fasteners that are inserted into the boss
features in base
frame member 108. The plurality of support components are attached to a front
surface 124 of
CA 02868961 2014-10-27
Attorney Docket No. 201402204
backer 110. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 11 and 17, support components attached
to backer 110
include a plurality of hooks 112 and a plurality of pockets 114. In one
embodiment, hooks 112
are fastened or attached to front surface 124 of backer 110 by, for example,
rivets. The rivets are
strong enough to hold up to three pounds and include a rust resistant coating.
Pockets 114 are
each made of a mesh fabric material that is secured to front surface 124 of
backer 110 at the
sides and bottoms of the pockets by, for example, rivets. In one embodiment,
an elastic seam is
placed at the top of the mesh material so as to hold and retain items that are
placed within the
pockets.
[0038] Front frame assembly 104 includes a moveable frame member or outer
profile 126, a
mirror 128, a mirror backer 130 and an inner ring 132 that is fastened to an
inside of moveable
frame member 126 to secure mirror 128 and mirror backer 130 to moveable frame
member 126.
In one embodiment, moveable frame member 126 is made of injection molded
polystyrene and
includes a plurality of integrally molded boss features for receiving
fasteners and integrally
molded ribs for added strength. Other types of materials and methods of
manufacturing are
possible. Moveable frame member 126 defines an opening 117 and includes an
integrally formed
inset 127 located adjacent to opening 117 and recessed from an inside of
moveable frame
member 126. Inset 127 provides an inner edge for locating mirror 128 and
mirror backer 130 and
a surface to which mirror 128 is adhesively coupled. Mirror 128 and mirror
backer 130 enclose
opening 117 in moveable frame member 126.
[0039] In one embodiment, inner ring 132 is made of an injection molded
polypropylene. Other
types of materials and methods of manufacturing are possible. Inner ring 132
defines an opening
133 and includes an inner lip 129 and an integrally formed active portion 136
of latch 118.
Active portion 136 of latch 118 is configured to mate with reactive portion
120 of latch 118 so as
to removably couple moveable frame member 126 to base frame member 108. Latch
118 will be
discussed in detail in regards to FIGS. 18-19. Inner lip 129 of inner ring 132
presses mirror 128
and mirror backer 130 into inset 127 of moveable frame member 126 when
fasteners are inserted
through holes in inner ring 132 to secure inner ring 132 to moveable frame
member 126.
[0040] As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, base frame member 108 of back frame
assembly 102
includes a thickness 138 and moveable frame member 126 of front frame assembly
104 includes
CA 02868961 2014-10-27
Attorney Docket No. 201402204
6
a thickness 140. Base frame member 108 is thicker than moveable frame member
126 so that
base frame member 108 provides storage space for holding items. Moveable frame
member 126
is thinner than base frame member 108 so that moveable frame member 126
provides a door or
closure for the storage space.
[0041] FIG. 18 is a partial section view of storage armoire 100 as indicated
in FIG. 3 with latch
118 in a locked position and active portion 136 of latch 118 in its neutral
state. FIG. 19 is the
partial section view of FIG. 18, but with latch 118 being in an unlocked
position and active
portion 136 of latch 118 in its biased state. As illustrated, mirror 128 and
mirror backer 130 are
secured within inset 127 by inner lip 129 of inner ring 132. As also
illustrated, active portion 136
of latch 118 is integrally formed with inner lip 129 of inner ring 132, which
is made of a flexible
material, and reactive portion 120 of latch 118 is integrally formed with base
frame member 108.
[0042] While inner ring 132 is fastened to moveable base frame 126 so that
inner lip 129
remains secured against mirror 128 and mirror backer 130, an engaging member
142 of active
portion 136 and a handle member 144 of active portion 136 can be placed in a
biased state. To
place engaging member 142 and handle member 144 in the biased state and
therefore unlock
latch 118, a user squeezes handle member 144 against moveable base frame 126
so that engaging
member 142 is rotated away from or is removed from reactive portion 120 of
latch 118. When
the user releases handle member 144, engaging member 142 and handle member 144
are
returned back to their neutral state by the resiliency of inner ring 132. To
lock latch 118,
moveable frame member 126 is pushed against base frame member 108. When
pushed, engaging
member 142 of active portion 136 and handle member 144 of active portion 136
will flex into
their biased state until engaging member 142 is past reactive portion 120 and
then returns to a
neutral position so that engaging member 142 again mates with reactive portion
120 of latch 118.
[0043] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-17, storage armoire 100 includes a first over-
the-door hanger or
elongated member 146 and a second over-the-door hanger or elongated member
148. FIG. 20
illustrates a perspective view of second over-the-door hanger 148. FIGS. 21-24
illustrate a front
view, a back view, a right side view and a left side view of second over-the-
door hanger 148.
FIG. 25 illustrates a plan view of an unbent or unformed second over-the-door
hanger 148. First
CA 02868961 2014-10-27
Attorney Docket No. 201402204
7
over-the-door hanger 146 is similar to second over-the-door hanger 148, but is
a mirror image of
over-the-door hanger 148.
[0044] In one embodiment and as illustrated in FIGS. 20-25, first and second
over-the-door
hangers 146 and 148 are made from a bent continuous piece of material, such as
steel. Each of
first and second over-the-door hangers 146 and 148 include a front surface
160, an opposing
back surface 161, a first side surface 162 and an opposing second side surface
163. In an unbent
configuration as illustrated in the plan view in FIG. 25, first surface 160 is
substantially parallel
with back surface 161, first side surface 162 is substantially parallel with
second side surface 163
and first and second side surfaces 162 and 163 are substantially perpendicular
to front and back
surfaces 160 and 161.
[0045] Each of first and second over-the-door hangers 146 and 148 includes
proximal ends 150
and distal ends 152. Proximal ends 150 are mounted to a back or back surface
109 of backer 110
of back frame assembly 102. Distal ends 152 are mounted to a door, such as
door 200. To make
first and second over-the-door hangers 146 and 148 into useable hangers, first
and second over-
the-door hangers 146 and 148 are formed by being bent, for example.
[0046] Each of first and second over-the-door hangers 146 and 148 includes a
mounting bend
164. Mounting bend 164 intersects with first and second side surfaces 162 and
163 of the
continuous piece of material at an oblique angle 166 (FIG. 25). Defined
between mounting bend
164 and proximal end 150 is a mounting portion 165. Mounting portion 165
includes a keyhole
154 and is mounted to back 109 of backer 110 of back frame assembly 102. In
one embodiment,
keyhole 154 provides for the tool-less mounting of mounting portion 165 to
back 109 of backer
110. FIG. 26 illustrates tool-lessly mounting the mounting portion 165 of over-
the-door hanger
146 to backer 110. As illustrated, a hanger ring 155 is mounted to each of a
left side and a right
side of back surface 109 of backer 110. Mounting portion 165 is inserted
through hanger ring
155 in an upward direction 156. Keyhole 154 is mounted to a fastener 157 on
back surface 109
by pressing mounting portion 165 toward back surface 109 so that fastener 157
extends through
keyhole 154 and then slides mounting portion 165 further in direction 156.
Ring 155 and fastener
157 together secure hangers 146 and 148 to backer 110 as illustrated in FIGS.
6 and 12.
CA 02868961 2014-10-27
Attorney Docket No. 201402204
8
[0047] First and second over-the-door hangers 146 and 148 also include a first
hook bend 167, a
second hook bend 168 and a third hook bend 169. First hook bend 167, second
hook bend 168
and third hook bend 169 intersect with first and second side surfaces 162 and
163 of the
continuous piece of material at oblique angles 170, 171 and 172 (FIG. 25).
Together first hook
bend 167, second hook bend 168 and third hook bend 169 define a U-shaped
bracket or hook
portion 173 of each over-the-door hanger 146 and 148.
[0048] U-shaped bracket or hook portion 173 fits over a top of a door, such as
door 200. First
hook bend 167 defines a front 174 of each hook portion 173. Front 174 of each
hook portion 173
is placed adjacent the side of door 200 on which storage armoire 100 is to be
placed. Defined
between first hook bend 167 and second hook bend 168 is a top 175 of each hook
portion 173.
Top 175 of each hook portion 173 is placed adjacent the top of door 200.
Defined between
second hook bend 168 and third hook bend 169 is a back 176 of each hook
portion 173. Back
176 of each hook portion 173 is placed adjacent the opposite side of door 200
from the side on
which storage armoire 100 is to be placed. Defined between third hook bend 169
and distal end
152 is a flange 177 of each hook portion 173.
[0049] Extending between the mounting portion 165 and the hook portion 173 of
each of over-
the-door hanger 146 and 148 is an arm 178. Arm 178 determines a vertical
position of storage
armoire 100 on door 200. A longer arm 178 makes the storage armoire sit lower
on the door. A
shorter arm 178 makes the storage armoire sit higher on the door. As
illustrated in FIGS. 1-17
and as indicated specifically in FIG. 6, hook portions 173 of over-the-door
hangers 146 and 148
are spaced apart from each other when hung from a door at a distance 180 that
is greater than a
distance 181 that mounting portions 165 are spaced apart from each other. In
other words, each
over-the-door hanger 146 or 148 is oriented at oblique angles 182 and 183
(FIGS. 1 and 2)
relative to a top of a door, such as door 200.
[0050] By having hook portions 173 be spaced apart from each other further
than mounting
portions 165 and over-the-door hangers 146 and 148 oriented at oblique angles
182 and 183,
storage armoire 100 will not slide substantially or rotate substantially on
the door (particularly
when the door is open) when front frame assembly 104 is unlatched from back
frame assembly
102 and opened. Mounting bend 164, first hook bend 165, second hook bend 166
and third hook
CA 02868961 2014-10-27
Attorney Docket No. 201402204
9
bend 167 and how they are obliquely angled from first and second side surfaces
161 and 162 of
the continuous pieces of material allow over-the-door hangers 146 and 148 to
be placed distances
180 and 181 relative to each other and be oriented at angles 182 and 183 from
the top of door
200.
[0051] More specifically, mounting bend 164 orients mounting portion 165 out
of alignment
from arm 178 so that mounting portion 165 is bent substantially 180 degrees
from arm 178 and
at oblique angle 166 relative to first and second side surfaces 161 and 162.
First hook bend 167
orients top 175 of hook portion 173 out of alignment from front 174 of hook
portion 173 so that
top 175 is bent substantially 90 degrees from front 174 at oblique angle 170
relative to first and
second side surfaces 161 and 162. Second hook bend 168 orients back 176 of
hook portion 173
out of alignment from top 175 of hook portion 173 so that back 176 is bent
substantially 90
degrees from top 175 at oblique angle 171 relative to first and second side
surfaces 161 and 162.
Third hook bend 169 orients flange 177 of hook portion 173 out of alignment
from back 176 of
hook portion 173 so that flange 177 is bent slightly outwards from back 176 at
oblique angle
1172 relative to first and second side surfaces 161 and 162. Flange 177
facilitates placement of
hook portion 173 over a top of a door by allowing a user to grip or pull on
flange 177 in order
assist with the placement of hook portion 173 while also preventing excessive
scratching on the
door. As clearly shown in FIG. 25, mounting bend 164, first hook bend 167 and
second hook
bend 168 are substantially parallel with each other, while third hook bend 169
is not.
[0052] Each hook portion 173 further includes a flexible tab or biasing tab
184 that protrudes
from front 174 of hook portion 173 toward back 176 of hook portion 173 into a
space defined by
hook portion 173. In one embodiment and as illustrated in FIGS. 20-25,
flexible tab 184 is
integrally formed with the continuous piece of material of each over-the-door
hanger 146 and
148 by, for example, a process of stamping a slot 186 in front 174. Slot 186
defines three sides of
tab 184. A fourth side of tab 184 remains unstamped and is connected to the
remainder of the
hanger. Flexible tab 184 acts as a biasing member and secures hook portion 173
to a door
regardless of the thickness of the door. In other words, using flexible tab
184, hook portion 173
can mate with varying thicknesses or different thicknesses of doors. In
addition, the curved bends
in arm 178 provides an additional feature for accommodating varying
thicknesses of doors.
CA 02868961 2014-10-27
Attorney Docket No. 201402204
[0053] To hang storage armoire or article 100 on door 200, the mounting
portion 165 of first
over-the-door hanger 146 is mounted to a back 109 of storage armoire 100 such
that mounting
portion 165 of first over-the-door hanger 146 is located adjacent to a first
side 111 of storage
armoire 100. The method further includes mounting second over-the-door hanger
148 to a back
109 of storage armoire 100 such that mounting portion 165 of second over-the-
door hanger 148
is located adjacent to a second side 113 of storage armoire 100. First side
111 opposes second
side 113. The method further includes hanging hook portions 173 of first and
second over-the-
door hangers 146 and 148 over the top of a door, such as door 200. Not only is
hook portion 173
of first over-the-door hanger 146 spaced apart from hook portion 173 of second
over-the-door
hanger 148 by distance 180, which is greater than distance 181 that mounting
portion 165 of first
over-the-door hanger 146 is spaced apart from mounting portion 165 of second
over-door-hanger
148, but distance 180 is also greater than a width 188 (FIG. 6) of storage
armoire 100.
[0054] Although elements have been shown or described as separate embodiments
above,
portions of each embodiment may be combined with all or part of other
embodiments described
above.
[0055] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to
structural features
and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter
defined in the appended
claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described
above. Rather, the
specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of
implementing the
claims.
